Concern C over rubbish at Sligo estate
RESIDENTS CALL ON COUNCIL TO DO MORE TO HELP CLEAN-UP PRIVATE ESTATE IN TOWN
RESIDENT Eddie Gillispie bought his home at Rathbraughan Park 33 years ago in 1984.
He recalls the pride people once took in the estate situated on the Old Bundoran Road. “This is a private housing estate. People raised their families and looked after the place,” he says.
Many of Eddie’s old neighbours have since moved out but he has remained through the decades.
In recent years the estate has had some ongoing problems, most notably with the dumping of rubbish. Eddie is quick to point out that the majority of the people now living in the estate do look after their homes and the estate as best they can.
He says many new families of different nationalities have bought homes and there are more owner occupiers than in recent times. But the issue of fly-tipping at a particular part of the estate is a consistent problem.
Chairman of the Residents’ Association Eddie explains: “This has been on-going for months and years. At times it tapers off. At other times there is so much rubbish it looks like a dump. There are cookers, household rubbish, plastic bags bursting with rubbish, cans and all sorts of debris.
“There is an alley way close to where the rubbish is dumped so it is easy to not be seen. Some of the residents want to see it closed off.”
The council did install security cameras at the location but Eddie claims the equipment is outdated and not recording properly. As a group the residents are in discussions with Sligo County Council on a regular basis.
“The council has said that they will install smaller cameras that will be less visible,” he says. He is hopeful that this can happen soon particularly in light of the changes to bin charges: “I expect with the new bin charges more people may be inclined to dump their rubbish illegally.”
Another pressing issue for the residents is the state of some of the buildings in the estate.
As Eddie explains: “There is a former creche here that closed about 10 years ago and it is in a derelict state. We’ve seen rats at the property and we would appeal for a dereliction order in respect of that property. I know of at least one family who left the estate because of that building. In addition there are about two houses in the estate in a similar state. We also have a river that needs to be fenced off for health and safety.”
The Residents are calling on the council to help tackle these issues and in particular the rubbish.
“Rathbraughan is far better than it was a couple of years ago. We had a problem with anti-social behaviour but that has improved. We have a small but dedicated committee and had a clean up and planted flowers last week,” says Eddie.